Discovery TD5 Water Leak - Front Seat Belt Guides

I've just discovered what appears to be new water ingress in the car. Td5 1999.

It has appeared from the where the front seatbelts pop out of the lining in the B-pillar on both sides, and was encouraged to come out more when swerving the car in an exaggerated fashion to encourage it. It wasn't more than a few drips that would have made a small'ish puddle, but enough to be of concern.

From the seat-belt gap, it would drip down the inner trim lining, and either drip straight down, or fall onto one of the front seats! Coming in at the seat belt guide is the highest point that I can trace it back to.

Can anyone suggest where the water would actually be getting into the car in the first place, as it ios bemusing me! The car has no air-con if that makes a difference.....

welcome to the club ! i have the same prob after some rain get in the disco take a bend and i get a soaking from the setbelt i also get water from the sunroof handles and from the roof lining above the headrests in the boot i've just admitted defeat.

s12aun said:

welcome to the club ! i have the same prob after some rain get in the disco take a bend and i get a soaking from the setbelt i also get water from the sunroof handles and from the roof lining above the headrests in the boot i've just admitted defeat.

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Thanks - Have you ever had it investigated? Have you ever had your sunroof sealed? Have you got half-length roofbars fitted? (I think that this is the only logical place that it can be coming in.... I just can't see anywhere else.....

I would guess that water is either leaking in through the sunroof or alpine windows and then running across the top of the head lining and sown the B pillars - the head lining is fibre glass type material on the back so does not absorb the water.

For your sunroof repairs, have a look at my guide here -
http://stbernardtrust.bravehost.com/sunroof.html

sounds like classic suroof problems. They all leak... that's part of owning a disco, you either get used to it or do something about it!

For a short term fix, climb ontop and use a tiny bead of clear silicone around the sunroof frame where it hits the metal of the bodywork. Then gaffertape over the glass/frame gap.

then when you get a free weekend check out Manta's photo method.

Mantamad said:

I would guess that water is either leaking in through the sunroof or alpine windows and then running across the top of the head lining and sown the B pillars - the head lining is fibre glass type material on the back so does not absorb the water.

For your sunroof repairs, have a look at my guide here -
http://stbernardtrust.bravehost.com/sunroof.html

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Thanks for your advice - and a great repair guide!

I shall try the selant round the edge first to see if this cures it. I shall do both windows, to make sure we can eliminate them as best as possible.... Is there a particular selant you would recommend that works?

battenberg said:

sounds like classic suroof problems. They all leak... that's part of owning a disco, you either get used to it or do something about it!

For a short term fix, climb ontop and use a tiny bead of clear silicone around the sunroof frame where it hits the metal of the bodywork. Then gaffertape over the glass/frame gap.

then when you get a free weekend check out Manta's photo method.

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I'm going to give this a go when I get some good sealant - however, wanted to ask about the gaffer tape in your suggestion...

If I am sealing the joint of sunroof frame to roof of car, what does the gaffer tape on the glass / frame gap do? I can't see what that does apart from stop you from opening the sunroof (or is that the point?)...

Thanks

rjsdavis said:

If I am sealing the joint of sunroof frame to roof of car, what does the gaffer tape on the glass / frame gap do? I can't see what that does apart from stop you from opening the sunroof (or is that the point?)...

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The silicone seals the frame to the metal of the body, this can leak and if you climb up on the back bumper and look carefully, you will probably see a gap (press down on it and it'll probably release a bit of water)

indeed using gaffer tape between the glass and the frame will seal the roof and render it non-opening, However it will also help prevent water ingress in the short term 'till you can do Manta's method...

your choice... wet and water stained headlining or a roof that opens? I got air con and windows 'till i get mine fixed for good!!!

battenberg said:

The silicone seals the frame to the metal of the body, this can leak and if you climb up on the back bumper and look carefully, you will probably see a gap (press down on it and it'll probably release a bit of water)

indeed using gaffer tape between the glass and the frame will seal the roof and render it non-opening, However it will also help prevent water ingress in the short term 'till you can do Manta's method...

your choice... wet and water stained headlining or a roof that opens? I got air con and windows 'till i get mine fixed for good!!!

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Okey dokey - thanks for your help.

I Had same problem on mine also 99 td5 stripped roof lining out popped sunroof including outer frame out resealed with silicone sealant from B&Q replaced all after cleaning roof lining now dry as a bone even after all the heavy rain. The sealant under the outer trim is only a small amount when sealed by landrover and usually diintegrates after time.

bigtrev said:

I Had same problem on mine also 99 td5 stripped roof lining out popped sunroof including outer frame out resealed with silicone sealant from B&Q replaced all after cleaning roof lining now dry as a bone even after all the heavy rain. The sealant under the outer trim is only a small amount when sealed by landrover and usually diintegrates after time.

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Bugger - this is good and bad news. Good that I know what the cause is now, and BAD that I've got a good dollop of labour coming my way really soon....

Dont take as long as you think managed to do it in a day, biggest problem is getting roof lining out without bending it. Sealent only £8.00. Good Luck

Have sealed my sunroofs up, but still get a little water in round the seatbelt area, so will put a bead round the Alpine windows aswell, Then onto the next one!

Instead of using silicon and tape to test if the seal is leaking, I would use vasaline which will temporary cure the leak if its present and very easy to remove if it is not or you make a proper repair. If you was you car you will need to re-apply it!

Hope this helps.

Any advise if you have a leak on the forward corners of the headlining and there is no sun roof?

Any help much appreciated.

powellboy123 said:

Instead of using silicon and tape to test if the seal is leaking, I would use vasaline which will temporary cure the leak if its present and very easy to remove if it is not or you make a proper repair. If you was you car you will need to re-apply it!

Hope this helps.

Any advise if you have a leak on the forward corners of the headlining and there is no sun roof?

Any help much appreciated.

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Usuallythe screen seal. or a leaky roofbar if you have those fitted.

I have the a problem with water at the front corners of the headlining. I do not have sa sunroof. I have noticed that theer is some play in the roof rails, could this be the cause? I have looked at the front windscreen seal there are gaps in the uper corner rubbers where they butt up to the gutter.

I do not think it has come from the windscreen as the water is above the this level.

I have just tried spearing vasaline around the seals for the roof rails but he leak re-appeared (may try again applying some more). Are there any drains from the alpine windows (2002 model td5) as I see this may be a source.

Any help would be much appreciated!
Cheers James

I forgot to mention, how difficult is it to access the bolts to tighten the roof bars?

It's not difficult you just remove the roof lining

Cheers,

I will try more vasaline around the bars to confirm it is these. I suspect it is as there are not very tight and it has occured after I gave them a bit of a shake seeing how loose they were.

Must say I am not looking forward to removing the whole head lining. Can you access the bolts by removing the rear plastic trim around the windows and possible some access by removing the sun visors. No doublt this would be too easy!?

Still get leaks, will need to apply more mastic, or trade it in for a D3 with no sunroof (do they leak aswell?)